Proactively

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /pɹəʊˈæk.tɪv.li/

Definitions

1. Taking preemptive measures to address future challenges Acting in a manner that seeks to shape outcomes positively Engaging in planning and action that aims to prevent difficulties ahead of time
2. Responding in advance to situations to guide results favorably
3. Taking initiative ahead of events to manage potential issues

Etymology: "Proactively" is simply "proactive" with the adverbial ending "-ly" added. The adjective "proactive" is formed from the prefix "pro-", meaning "forward" or "in favour of," and "active," so the combined sense is acting ahead of events rather than reacting to them. The ending "-ly" has a long pedigree of its own: it descends from a Proto-Germanic suffix meaning "body" or "form," which in Old English became "-lic" and then "-lice" and eventually the modern "-ly." Its use turns an adjective into an adverb describing the manner of an action. The sense of "proactive" stresses the forward-looking part of its prefix. Where "reactive" describes responding after something has happened, "proactive" describes moving first, dealing with a problem or shaping a result before it arrives, and "proactively" applies that same attitude to how an action is carried out.

Synonyms: actively, anticipatorily, preventively, preemptively, forwardly

Antonyms: reactively, passively, inactively, unresponsively, indifferently